23-year-old millionaire who rose from selling tea leaves in expensive estate in Nairobi

It all started as a survival tactic when 23-year-old Paul Mugenda, a graduate of actuarial science, from Technical University of Kenya, plunged into the world of business.

In a recent interview, Mugenda said he used to hustle while staying at his aunt's home in Githurai, an estate located at the border of Kiambu County, when he ventured into a small scale business of selling tea leaves at Githurai's Chuma Mbili area to offset some of his university education needs.

And as a comrade with less pride, he ventured into the business and started selling tea leaves from 7pm to 9pm, mostly targeting employed people.

"On an average I could make between N897-950 and where I was to save the profit," he said.

"I used to buy batch of majani chai in Murang'a county and sell them to my clients," he added.

In 2014, the focused youth, decided to relocate to Mathare estate inNairobi, and rented a single room that was going for N6,100 per month just to start his own independent life.

23-year-old Paul Mugenda seated in his luxurious office. He is a graduate of actuarial science from Technical University of Kenya. Photo: Papanoo

Paul stated that after starting his own life, he got another opportunity in an insurance company and decided to quit his first hustle. He joined Kenindia Insurance Company at the age of 18 years old with no experience but was ready to learn.

"I had no experience, but since I am a go getter I gave it a try and all was well," he said.

With God's blessings, the 23-year-old met an Indian guy who liked his zeal and passion for what he was doing in his line of duty.

He offered him a new job as an online Forex trader. He expressed his desire to learn the Forex trade and as a quick learner Paul was able to grasp the details of the business and proved himself in demos.

In 2016, at the age of 21 and working for the same company, he made his first N897,000 within a day, prompting him to rent an office in Westlands and then he begun making his own money.

He was able to set up another Forex bureau and started training Kenyans.

"When you are young and ambitious you think everything is easy," he said.

In 2017, he managed to buy himself a car, and in 2018 he bought another one and opened up three functional operating restaurants, Paris cafes.